With the launch of Early Day motion 919 in support of Yarl’s Wood hunger strikers this struggle for truth and justice has reached parliament. In a backlash, Meg Hillier, junior minister in the Home Office, wrote to every MP claiming the media were ‘misreporting’. Hunger strikers ‘were buying food from the centre’s shop and having food delivered by visitors’.

Having researched this incident from the start, I believe Hillier’s letter is dishonest. Visitors are not allowed to bring food into Yarl’s Wood. On 22 February thirty-two strikers signed a statement to say they had not eaten since 5 February. Canteen records are kept under Serco’s control. One detainee reported staff ticked the boxes in their record book to say she had eaten meals even though she had not been to the canteen for three weeks.

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